School 'deeply shocked and saddened' by deaths of 'loving' twin brothers

The school of Thomas and Patrick O’Driscoll, who were found dead in their home just outside Charleville, Co Cork yesterday, has described the twins as "loving, energetic and full of fun".

Banogue National School in Croom, Co Limerick, say staff and pupils there are "deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden and untimely deaths of two young brothers in the school".

Thomas and Patrick were in third class in the school and were nine years of age.

They were found dead in their home shortly before 5pm yesterday, around an hour before their brother, Jonathan was found dead in a forest near a river just outside Buttevant, about 15km from the scene of the first deaths.

The Irish Times is reporting that the boys' parents had gone out to buy the twins a present when the tragedy happened.

Principal teacher at the school, Sheila Cagney, said: "This is a terrible tragedy for the family, the school and the whole community. We are deeply saddened by this event.

"Our sympathy and thoughts are with the family and friends at this terrible time."

Ms Cagney described both boys as "loving, energetic and full of fun". The boys had been pupils in the school for just over a year.

She said the focus of the staff at this time was on the pupils in the school who are trying to come to terms with the loss of young friends.

“We will help the children to the best of our ability,” said Ms Cagney.

“We are receiving support from the National Education Psychological Service who will be at the school today to support staff on dealing with the tragedy.”

Ms Cagney appealed for privacy to allow the staff to focus on the children and will make no further comment at this time.

The alarm was raised when a member of the family arrived home and discovered the youngsters in the detached, pink and white bungalow just off the main Cork-Limerick road, an area of Charleville known as Deerpark.

A major Garda search was launched for another member of the family and his body was discovered in a wooded area near the river Awbeg at Castlelands just 1km from Buttevant.

Arrangements are being made for post-mortem examinations to be carried out on all three bodies at Cork University Hospital.